Design is both function and aesthetics. While it has been influenced by art to a degree, the most basic form of design has function in mind. Yet aesthetics is important because it allows design to be communicable, enjoyable and easier to understand and use.
The aesthetics of design respond to society’s social, political and economic state, and the design’s functionalities are driven by society’s environmental and economic needs and scientific resources.
Both art and science are aspects of design; they are linked, not divided. The art of design and the science of design are often influenced by the same factors.
And while Hannes Meyers argued that design is a result of creating purely from functional and economical aspects, one must consider that even the Bauhaus’ design had an aesthetic that to this day holds it’s legacy. Namely, the rounded font of Bauhaus is definitely an aesthetic statement on functionality. In design function and aesthetics are intrinsically linked, with both being influenced by society and technology. For example, in the 1980s computer technology helped create the pixilated aesthetic, while in 15th century Italy society’s evolving ideals and influences of antiquity caused a Renaissance, refining both art and architecture.
Today’s design is so wide ranging and democratic, that one cannot define our time with one set of design such as “Bauhaus”, but the common link in recent industrial designs of the past 20 years is the influence of Bauhaus. We can see the economical and aesthetically pleasing use of the rounded edges in technology, as design that endeavors to be environmentally economical. For example, the evolution of car design has seen cars become more and more streamline, and with the relatively recent release of the SmartCar, car design has reached a stage of such compact and minimalistic forms, that we can see an aspect of where design is heading. And whether design will become continually more minimalistic, or we may see a return of “decoration”, design will always be influenced by both art and science, because like humanity, design encompasses both.
Resources: DaimlerChrysler (1998 - 2006) Smart Fortwo Coupe Pure. Retrieved 22/09/2011 from http://auto.howstuffworks.com/smart-car.htm
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